One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 69

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

One Day I Picked Up a Mother – Episode 69

“Tomorrow?”

Ludrio stopped fidgeting with his glass and asked back.

Gaien didn’t miss the subtle twitch at the end of his brother’s eyebrow.

Rather than displeasure, it was a somewhat guarded reaction. As if he was reluctant.

“…Yes, tomorrow.”

Gaien replied curtly as he buried himself deeper into the sofa.

The capital was already buzzing with talk about the new member of House of Rharhart.

There was a commotion about what the orders for toys meant – whether for a woman or a young boy.

Gaien really didn’t like that.

The fact that he had to learn about his only blood relative’s situation through stories that had circulated through social circles as someone’s entertainment before belatedly reaching him.

‘That Dowager Countess likes Luciana Oren?’

Without any deals.

She just allowed a mere branch member of the Oren family to become the mistress of Rharhart.

Gaien’s mouth tasted bitter.

Whether that story was the unvarnished truth, or his brother’s lie fabricated because he didn’t want to tell him the facts.

Either way, it was very unpleasant.

“Tomorrow won’t work.”

At the firm refusal that finally came, Gaien’s brow furrowed.

“…Why.”

When he was eight years old and had lost his entire family, Ludrio Rharhart had said this to him.

‘You’re the only blood relative I have left now, Gaien.’

After that, Ludrio came to visit him in the Capital City at least once a week. Even though the Previous Count and Countess extremely disliked Ludrio’s visits to the imperial palace.

Gaien knew.

That on the days his brother came to see him and returned, he had to endure sharp rebukes and harsh beatings as the price.

Even so, Ludrio didn’t stop. He would fabricate official duties and sometimes even forge unofficial channels to cross the palace gates.

He even personally secured the position of his sword instructor to stay by his side.

From when he was eight until now.

To Gaien, Ludrio was both brother and father, and mother.

He was his only blood relative…

“At this rate, social circles will meet my nephew before I do.”

But now, was it because he was no longer the only one?

“I even prepared a gift for my nephew. Just how much longer do I have to wait?”

Still, he was his younger brother, they were family.

He didn’t want to hear about his nephew’s appearance through other people’s mouths.

“I’ll set a date and contact you within tomorrow.”

However, Ludrio only repeated that tomorrow wouldn’t work until the end.

Without any particular explanation. He pushed him away from his Rharhart.

“…”

Only then did Gaien truly realize that he was getting married soon.

Ludrio Rharhart would marry and start a new family. Abandoning him.

“…By the way, your lips are all chapped. Is it because of the southern waterway project issue?”

Gaien buried himself even deeper into the couch, avoiding Ludrio who was leaning toward him.

And he closed his eyes.

“The interests of the provincial nobles are complexly intertwined. If necessary, I could…”

Ludrio’s low, sunken voice tickled his ears.

Gaien closed his eyes even tighter.

* * *

Gaien kept fondling the gift box in his hands throughout the carriage ride.

Finally, it was that day.

The day to meet his nephew.

“…”

Gaien had brought a treasure from the imperial family for his nephew, for his brother’s child.

The lucky brooch that His Majesty Emperor Sigmund always carried with him on the battlefield.

With the hope that luck would also come to that child who would resemble his brother, that everything would be safe and furthermore prosperous.

Actually, what he had first prepared was a toy that children of that age supposedly liked.

However, he changed his mind after hearing that the Duke’s mansion had already ordered plenty of them.

It was because he wanted to give something even more special to his one and only nephew.

So after receiving contact from his brother, he pondered for four days about what gift would be good.

At the end of that deliberation, he chose this sapphire brooch.

It would surely suit that child well, who would have blue eyes like theirs.

…Though Uncle would probably have something to say if he found out.

Still.

The modest black carriage Gaien rode in passed through the main gate of Count Roderich’s Estate.

“Welcome, Your Majesty.”

Soon after getting off the carriage and entering the estate, the waiting servant bowed.

“It’s good to see you often. Have you been well?”

“Yes, I have been well. The Count is in the drawing room. Let me guide you.”

When Gaien nodded and was about to follow the servant to the drawing room, he encountered someone coming down the stairs and had to stop right there.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

The Dowager Countess in a blue dress offered her greeting with restrained movements without a single error.

“…It’s been a long time, Countess.”

Gaien also responded with courtesy befitting a crown prince. However, dealing with the lady who openly displayed her hostility toward him was still an awkward matter.

She lightly waved her hand to dismiss the servant and stepped one step closer.

Gaien hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Have you been well all this time?”

“With Your Majesty visiting Rharhart so comfortably, I cannot be well.”

However, the Dowager Countess only scolded him in a very cold voice.

“What business brings you to Count Roderich’s Estate?”

What was the purpose of today’s visit?

Gaien couldn’t easily answer that question.

As he pondered what words to use to get through this situation, her gaze fell on the small gift box in his hand.

“Today I simply came as a younger brother to see my elder brother.”

Eventually, Gaien slowly revealed the truth.

“Younger brother?”

The Dowager Countess’s eyes became very sharp in an instant. Sharp enough to perhaps look spiteful.

“You still carelessly speak such foolish words. Your Majesty has never once been Ludrio’s younger brother.”

She completely blocked Gaien’s path and added coldly.

“You haven’t forgotten the promise made between the previous emperor and our family before Your Majesty and Ludrio were even born, have you? That contract to give the third son to Rharhart in exchange for allowing that marriage. And yet, younger brother. It seems Your Majesty still finds that promise amusing.”

“…I simply wanted to see his face and give my blessing.”

“Exactly. By what right are you trying to interfere privately in family matters?”

The lady who stepped one step closer murmured very quietly. Gaien felt somewhat wronged.

“I heard that you wish to bring Luciana Oren in as the Countess. That’s why you keep her by your side.”

So such words burst out.

“Then wouldn’t it be a good thing if I showed interest and affection?”

Wasn’t that right? What had he done so wrong? He was still her grandson.

A grandson who had lost his entire family and become alone when he was eight years old.

“I’m saying I’ll support both the family’s child and Luciana Oren as you wish.”

And yet the Dowager Countess had never once treated him as family.

What exactly had he done so wrong?

“What?”

The Countess’s face twisted in fury. As if she was utterly outraged and angry.

“That’s exactly the problem. Even without His Majesty’s interference, this is already an extremely delicate situation. A daughter from a humble family and the Count’s illegitimate child. If His Majesty stirs things up like this in such circumstances, what do you think the social circle will say when they witness this spectacle?”

Her cold aura slowly swept over Gaien’s entire body.

“Won’t they mock us, saying that House of Rharhart has finally resorted to begging for the Imperial Family’s protection, that we’ve become a family that can’t even establish a single heir by our own hands without the Imperial Family’s permission?”

“…That’s.”

Gaien’s lips trembled slightly.

He wanted to argue back, but the scenario she had laid out was so brutally realistic that he had nothing to say.

Such talk would be utterly humiliating mockery for the Rharhart Family.

“So go back. Don’t try to do anything.”

The Countess took another step closer as if driving in the final nail.

“You’re the child who used to visit the Capital City every time, pitying yourself for losing your parents. If His Majesty holds even the slightest gratitude toward Ludrio from those days, I believe he should act accordingly.”

Was this why his brother had refused so guardedly that day in Domus?

Gaien gripped the sapphire brooch box in his hand even tighter.

“…Mother?”

Just then, a clear voice rang out from not too far away. Gaien’s shoulders visibly stiffened.

At the moment he least wanted to meet anyone.

Of all times, now.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————